A bombshell All Blacks coaching staff resignation, Nicola Willis tells trolls to "stuff off", and a rare whale washes up in NZ.
1 All Blacks bombshell as assistant coach Leon MacDonald steps down
The All Blacks have been hit by a bombshell on the eve of their departure for their South Africa tour, with assistant coach Leon MacDonald stepping down after differences of opinion with head coach Scott Robertson.
A New Zealand Rugby statement just before midday today said MacDonald decided to step down after discussions with Robertson.
All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson said: "Leon and I have been having some honest conversations with each other for a little while now. As coaches we have differing views and both agreed it wasn't working. Leon and I both care deeply about the All Blacks and we believe we've made a decision that's best for this team."
2 Emails sent to escort in days before Hanna's death, court hears
Emails were being sent between murder accused Philip Polkinghorne and Sydney escort Madison Ashton in the days before his wife's death, and a video with her in it was also watched on his laptop.
An internet search for escorts was also carried out, Polkinghorne's trial has been told.
The trial at the High Court in Auckland has been hearing from a police officer who examined cloned data from his MacBook.
Warning: This article contains content that could be disturbing to some people.
3 US woman's NZ residence declined after adviser gave false information
A licensed immigration adviser has been censured and banned from practising for two years after a client's residency visa was denied due to him giving false information.
John Lawlor had lodged a residence visa application for his client, a US citizen, and told her that travelling to Australia would not impact the process.
This was incorrect information, and the client left New Zealand, which led to Immigration New Zealand denying her application.
4 What you need to know about NZ's electricity supply crisis
New Zealand is heading towards an electricity supply crisis.
Months of dry weather have led to low hydro storage and that along with falling gas reserves are being blamed for soaring wholesale electricity prices. The crunch is already hurting businesses and forcing closures, with residential consumers next in line to feel the pinch.
So how we generate electricity? Why is demand increasing? And how will that affect the cost and what could happen next?
5 'Stuff off you pathetic little troll': Willis hits back at abuse
Female politicians fear a normalised "toxic environment" of gendered abuse is stopping women from wanting a seat at the decision-making table.
Now, National Party deputy leader and Finance Minister Nicola Willis is calling for people to join her in "belittling the trolls" as she shares a message for an online harasser: "Stuff off."
Willis spoke at a gathering for women in local government ahead of the LGNZ SuperLocal conference yesterday.
ONE RARE WHALE
A baby whale that died shortly after stranding near East Cape has been identified as a species so rare it has only been seen four times before in New Zealand – and never as a newborn.
The gingko-toothed beaked whale was discovered on a beach at Te Kaha on May 18, but such is its rarity – not to mention the difficulty of distinguishing one baby whale from another – it has only now been identified through DNA analysis.
Department of Conservation marine adviser Anton van Helden said the gingko-toothed beaked whale was "exceedingly rare" and, given its habit of spending most of its time at great depths, "extremely elusive".
ONE MAJOR DIET CUT
Alarming studies pointing to a surge in cancer cases in the under-50 age group inspired 24-year-old Joe Bromley to cut ultra-processed foods out of his diet.
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